The next evening, after much hesitation, Phoebe finally turned on her phone. Instantly, dozens of messages from Hermosa flooded in, the notifications overwhelming her in an instant.A flicker of irritation crossed her face. Without even bothering to read them, her fingers instinctively swiped past the messages, as if ignoring them could erase the painful past they carried.By the third day, the screen remained filled with Hermosa's apologies—each word a reminder of the wounds Phoebe had suffered.She stared at the messages, biting her lip, her emotions a tangled mess. Yet, she still chose to ignore them.Days passed—fourth, fifth… until the sixth day. Hermosa remained relentless, sending apology messages daily without fail.Phoebe had intended to stay firm, but she was never one to harden her heart completely. Hermosa's persistence, like water wearing down stone, gradually eroded the defenses she had so carefully built.Finally, she couldn't resist any longer. With trembling fingers,
Even though the room was shrouded in darkness, Hermosa could clearly feel the rough, powerful grip tightening around her arm. Fear surged over her like a relentless tide, swallowing her whole.She instinctively wanted to scream, but a large hand clamped down over her mouth, stifling even the faintest sound.More hands suddenly grabbed her, wrapping around her body with brute force. Her heart pounded violently, as if it were about to burst from her chest.She frantically darted her eyes around in the pitch-black room, but she couldn't make out the figures surrounding her. One thing, however, was certain—she wasn't alone with just one man."You'll have a good time tonight,"a sinister voice sneered in the darkness, sending an icy chill coursing through her veins.Then—rip!The sound of fabric being torn apart pierced the silence like a blade, slashing through her last shred of hope."No! No, please—!"Hermosa
The night was deep, and the city was shrouded in thick darkness.Alexander had just finished dealing with a long, grueling day at the company. Exhausted, he dragged his weary body back home. The moment he stepped inside, the eerie silence of the house jolted him awake.Hermosa was nowhere to be seen.His brows furrowed in an instant. Striding quickly to the bedroom, he flipped on the lights. The room was immaculate, everything in its place—except for her.A sinking feeling took hold of him. He rushed downstairs, calling her name in every corner of the villa. His voice echoed in the vast emptiness, but there was no response. A creeping unease clawed at his heart, cold sweat breaking out on his palms.He wasted no time in waking the servants, his voice laced with urgency. "Have any of you seen Hermosa?"The servants shook their heads. They told him she had left in the afternoon and had not returned since.Alexander's heart pounded
Phoebe gently caressed her slightly rounded belly, her heart brimming with anticipation for motherhood. She had just returned from a prenatal check-up, and the doctor's confirmation that her baby was healthy filled her with an indescribable joy. Every step she took felt as if she were floating.However, the moment she stepped out of the hospital, a dark shadow suddenly loomed over her. Before she could react, Alexander appeared like a phantom, seizing her and carrying her into the car.The abruptness of the situation sent a wave of terror crashing over Phoebe. Her heart pounded violently against her ribcage as if it were about to burst free. She collapsed onto the seat, gasping for breath. It took a long while for her heartbeat to slow to a steady rhythm.Instinctively, she shielded her stomach, silently thanking the heavens that her baby had already been nestled safely inside her for several months. If this had happened earlier in her pregnancy, she didn't dare imagine the consequence
Alexander's face was twisted in fury as he gripped Phoebe's arms like iron shackles, dragging her toward the concealed, airtight facility. Fear and panic surged through Phoebe as she desperately clawed at his arms, her nails nearly breaking from the force. Yet, Alexander remained unfazed, his pace unwavering.As soon as they stepped inside, the dim, yellowish lights cast eerie shadows along the walls, intensifying the sinister atmosphere. The air was thick with the scent of dampness and decay, so nauseating it made Phoebe gag. Without warning, Alexander yanked her into a bedroom and flung her onto the bed.The impact was brutal. Pain exploded through her body as she felt like her insides had shifted. Instinctively, she clutched her abdomen, gasping in terror.Please, my baby… please be okay."Alexander, don't do this, please," Phoebe pleaded, fighting through the pain and fear, her voice trembling. "Is there some kind of misunderstanding? Can't we talk? I just want to know why you're t
Phoebe struggled with all her might, her body writhing like a trapped beast. She twisted violently, but the cold, unyielding shackles bound her limbs tightly. Each struggle was futile, leaving only deep red marks on her wrists and ankles.Her eyes were filled with terror and despair. Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, mixing with the tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.Alexander's bloodshot gaze burned with a fury so intense it seemed almost tangible. The veins on his forehead bulged, twisting like writhing worms. His sharp glare was as chilling as a blade slicing through the darkness, sending shivers down the spine."Why? Why did you do this?" He kept repeating, his voice hoarse from emotion. Each word erupted from deep within his chest, dripping with raw anger and accusation.Before the last word fully left his lips, he lunged at Phoebe like a beast breaking free from its chains. His hands tore at her ruthlessly, subjecting her to unspeakable torment.Phoebe's tear-fi
The atmosphere in the hospital was tense, thick with hostility. Gavin's men had the place sealed off so tightly that not even a fly could slip through.Alexander's expression was ice-cold, his gaze as sharp as a blade as he locked eyes with Gavin. He spoke slowly, enunciating each word with chilling clarity. “Gavin, you'd better pull your men back immediately. Otherwise, you know what the consequences will be.”Gavin's bloodshot eyes burned with fury. He looked like a raging lion, his gaze fixed on Alexander as he roared, “Tell me—where is Phoebe?”A strange smile suddenly crept onto Alexander's face, laced with mockery. “Aren't you supposed to be so capable? If you have the ability, go find and save her yourself.”“Don't push me too far!” Gavin could no longer contain his rage. He lunged forward, grabbing Alexander by the collar, their faces mere inches apart. The tension in the air was suffocating.Yet, Alexander remained unfazed, his gaze cruel and unyielding. “Let go,” he said col
Amidst the chaos, Alexander found himself stepping into the secret prison where Phoebe was held, time and time again.Each visit, he inflicted pain upon her, only to plunge himself deeper into an abyss of torment. His hands were stained with her suffering, yet no amount of time could wash away the guilt gnawing at his soul.Every scar, every anguished scream, was like a sharp needle piercing into the depths of his conscience.Eventually, he could no longer bear the weight of his own cruelty and stopped going altogether.He realized that no matter how much anger and misunderstanding clouded his judgment, he could never truly hate her—not completely.Time slipped away unnoticed, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.During this time, Phoebe remained locked away in this dark and suffocating prison, completely cut off from the outside world. Though Alexander rarely visited, each time he did, he brought her nothing but nightmares.Her body was covered in wounds—old scars barely healin
Phoebe collided with Gavin's blazing gaze. At that moment, he gracefully lifted his slender fingers and slowly unbuttoned his suit jacket.A flush crept up Phoebe's cheeks. Her eyes involuntarily followed his movements, watching as he unfastened each button with deliberate ease. Then, the impeccably tailored suit jacket was carelessly tossed onto the plush bed.Her heartbeat stuttered, then rapidly accelerated, pounding as if it might burst from her chest.Nervousness gripped her, and the air was filled with his unique scent, surrounding her completely.He gave her no chance to retreat. His long fingers gently lifted her delicate chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Embarrassment overwhelmed Phoebe, and the moment her eyes landed on his striking features, a fleeting image of another man surfaced in her mind.Her face stiffened instantly, and a flicker of panic flashed in her eyes.Why? Why would she think of him at a time like this?A surge of complex emotions churned within her, and s
Tonight, Phoebe had no intention of going back to her own home. Sitting in the car, she hesitated for a moment before dialing her mother's number. As soon as the call connected, her cheeks flushed, and with a hint of shyness in her voice, she murmured into the receiver, "Mom, I'm not coming home tonight. I'll be staying at Gavin's place." The moment the words left her lips, she felt as if her face had caught fire. Her naturally reserved nature made her incredibly self-conscious, and hearing her mother chuckle on the other end only deepened her embarrassment. A wave of regret surged through her—she wished she could take back what she had just said. But it was too late now. She had already agreed to go with Gavin, and she couldn't bear the thought of disappointing him. Hanging up the call, Phoebe realized her palms were damp with sweat. She took a deep breath to steady herself.I made this decision willingly. There's no reason to be nervous.After all, they were already engaged. Liv
After hanging up the phone, Gavin rushed over, his heart pounding with urgency.From a distance, he spotted Phoebe sitting alone on a bench by the street. Under the shroud of night, her silhouette looked particularly lonely.As if sensing his presence, Phoebe's eyes welled up the moment she saw him.In the very next second, she sprang from the bench like an arrow released from its bow, dashing toward Gavin without hesitation. She threw herself into his arms, as though she had finally found the safe harbor she had been searching for after drifting for so long."Why didn't you answer my calls today? I was so worried about you." Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a trace of suppressed sobs. She had spent the entire day in distress, her heart suspended in midair, unable to settle.Perhaps she had grown too used to his daily calls—so when his voice suddenly vanished from her world, an inexplicable fear crept into her heart.She was afrai
Weekend.Gavin hadn't called in a long time, leaving Phoebe restless with worry.Now, she dialed his number again. Once, twice… several times in a row, but all she got was the monotonous beeping sound—no answer.He used to call her every day without fail, sharing bits and pieces of his daily life. But today's unusual silence filled Phoebe with an unsettling feeling.Overwhelmed by anxiety, she quickly got dressed, determined to go to Gavin's place and find out what was going on.Please, let nothing bad have happened.On the way, Phoebe sat in the back of a taxi, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Her fingers tapped restlessly on her knee, each tap echoing the urgency in her heart.As if fate was against her, the evening rush hour had turned the city streets into a gridlocked mess. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace, each meter forward feeling like an eternity.Phoebe stared at the endless line of cars in front of her
Leroy watched in shock as the crimson blood spread, feeling as if a sledgehammer had slammed into his chest. A sharp pain shot through him, as if the knife had pierced not Laura's hand but his very heart. She had blocked the knife for him—without hesitation! A flash of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes. Without a second thought, his hand clamped down on the assailant's wrist like an iron vice. With all his strength, he squeezed. A sickeningcrackechoed through the night—the unmistakable sound of bone shattering. The sheer force of it was proof of Leroy's fury reaching its boiling point. The man let out a bloodcurdling scream, his wrist exploding in pain. His grip on the knife instantly loosened, and with a sharpclang, the weapon clattered to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Leroy, still seething, delivered a vicious kick. Every ounce of his rage powered that single s
On the other side of town, Leroy booked a room at another hotel. Dragging his exhausted body inside, he thought a simple wash-up and a comfortable bed would lull him into sleep. Yet, reality proved him wrong.He tossed and turned, rumpling the sheets into a chaotic mess.In the darkness, his eyes remained wide open, haunted by Laura's image—her innocent smile, those big, watery eyes, and the look of helplessness she had worn when she was left alone. Each scene replayed endlessly in his mind.Leroy stared out at the pitch-black night beyond the window, his jaw unconsciously tightening. An unsettling sense of anxiety gnawed at his heart.Had he gone too far? It was already late, and Laura was just a young woman—beautiful and alone in a foreign city. What if something bad happened to her?Thinking back, having her around these past days had actually brought a warmth and liveliness to his life. In this foreign land, he had never felt this l
In the bathroom, Leroy felt completely cut off from the outside world. He had spent a full hour inside before finally stepping out through the tightly closed door.But the scene before him made him gasp sharply, his eyes widening in shock.Laura had fallen back into a deep sleep on the bed, as if nothing had happened. What made his blood rush even more was her completely unguarded sleeping posture.She was sprawled out in a starfish position, her clothes in disarray. And the most provocative part? The way her neckline had slipped, half-revealing the delicate curves beneath. The sight was completely unobstructed from his angle.Leroy suddenly felt an itch on his philtrum. Reflexively, he wiped it, only to find his fingers smeared with fresh, red blood.He was having a nosebleed!Damn it. It wasn't as if he'd never seen a woman before! How could he be so easily thrown off balance?His gaze roamed over her, unrestrained. Right now, Laura was like a perfectly ripe peach—tempting, luscious
At the break of dawn, on the other side of the city.Leroy slowly woke from his slumber, his chest feeling as if a heavy boulder was pressing down on it. Instinctively, he reached out, his fingers brushing against something soft and fuzzy. As his eyes fluttered open, they widened in shock.Laura was sprawled across him, completely unrestrained. Her arms clung to his like a vice, her leg hooked around his waist, making her look like a stubborn little koala refusing to let go.Her soft, delicate body was pressed snugly against his firm chest, and the blanket that was supposed to be covering her had long since slipped to the floor, lying abandoned beside the bed.Leroy furrowed his brows in deep regret.That day, he had gritted his teeth and forced himself to send her away. Yet, somehow, as if under some inexplicable spell, he had ended up bringing her back. Not only that, but he had let her stay by his side, fed her three meals a day, and even given up his own bed for her.He must have
Phoebe panicked and quickly tugged at her collar, trying to cover the incriminating marks. At the same time, she lowered her head, not daring to meet Gavin's gaze.Her mind was completely blank—she had no idea what to say.Should she explain? She couldn't bring herself to, knowing she had wronged Gavin. But if she remained silent, he might start suspecting something. Caught in this agonizing dilemma, she chose silence. She knew that at this moment, any explanation would only make her seem more guilty."Go rest," Gavin finally said. He seemed to sense her unease and embarrassment. His voice was still gentle, but there was an undercurrent of complexity that was hard to decipher.With that, he turned and walked away, his departing figure exuding a quiet sense of loss and helplessness. Phoebe stood motionless, staring after him as tears blurred her vision once again. A crushing wave of guilt consumed her, drowning her completely."Gavin, I miss the kids," Phoebe murmured, lifting her gaze